The family Immigration Rules contain a provision for exceptional circumstances, including a breach of Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, where there would be unjustifiably harsh consequences for the applicant, their partner, a relevant child, or another family member if their application were to be refused.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4888", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Sharpe of Epsom"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Sharpe of Epsom"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2023-12-20", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2023-12-20T12:37:16.21Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2023-12-06", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Visas: Families"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the compliance of the proposed £38,700 income requirement for applications to bring dependents to the UK with the Human Rights Act 1998.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4333", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Scriven"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Scriven"} ], "uin" : "HL950"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1470458", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Transport"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1470458/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is continuing to work hard to provide as many practical driving test appointments as possible. It is forecasting recovery to single figure waiting times by February 2023. The DVSA constantly assesses its modelling and regularly adjusts assumptions as appropriate if changing trends become apparent.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4580", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Vere of Norbiton"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Vere of Norbiton"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-06-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-06-27T13:53:40.25Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "27"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2022-06-14", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Driving Tests: Waiting Lists"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government when they expect average driving test waiting times to return to the average in February 2020.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1251", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Naseby"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Naseby"} ], "uin" : "HL950"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1331573", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1331573/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The UK Government is committed to leading efforts to protect the marine environment from all human-induced stressors. Marine litter is one of the greatest environmental challenges we face with 80% of marine plastic litter originating from land-based sources, and predictions of a threefold increase in the amount of plastics in the ocean between 2015 and 2025.<\/p>
Domestically, assessments in the UK Marine Strategy Part One (published in October 2019) show that Good Environmental Status for contaminants in UK waters has largely been achieved, though not yet for marine litter. The UK Marine Strategy Part Three (published in December 2015) sets out the comprehensive list of actions that the UK Government is taking to reduce contaminant concentrations in the marine environment to acceptable levels. Existing measures include various pollution reduction requirements for emissions and discharges from industry, and measures for coastal waters that are set out in the River Basin Management Plans. We intend to publish an update to Part Three this year, outlining the programme of measures that will continue to move us towards Good Environmental Status in our seas.<\/p>
Our 25 Year Environment Plan also establishes our target of reducing all forms of marine plastic pollution where possible, with our Resources and Waste Strategy setting out how we will achieve this. The Strategy includes a commitment to review and consult on measures such as Extended Producer Responsibility for fishing gear by 2022.<\/p>
Given the trans-boundary nature of the marine environment, we work closely with other countries to tackle pollution, for example through the OSPAR Convention. The UK also contributes to and implements the obligations of several global initiatives, including the London Protocol and the London Convention, to protect the marine environment from mercury, persistent organic pollutants, hazardous wastes, hazardous chemicals, pesticides and marine litter.<\/p>
In 2018, the UK and Vanuatu launched the Commonwealth Clean Ocean Alliance, a Blue Charter Action Group, now comprising 34 countries, each pledging action on plastic pollution. To support this work, the UK has committed up to £70 million to tackle plastics pollution entering our ocean. This includes boosting global research, supporting developing countries to address ambitions under the Commonwealth Clean Ocean Alliance, as well as testing and finding alternative ways in which plastics can be reduced, reused or recycled and making efforts to transition to more sustainable forms of manufacturing.<\/p>
<\/p>
The UK has also launched a £500 million Blue Planet Fund, financed from Official Development Assistance, to help eligible countries protect their marine resources from key human-generated threats including climate change, marine pollution such as marine litter, overfishing and biodiversity loss.<\/p>
<\/p>
Due to the scale of the marine litter challenge, the UK believes it is also time to start negotiations on a new global agreement on marine litter and microplastics at the United Nations Environment Assembly. This would build on the important work we are doing to tackle marine litter both domestically and internationally and support our commitments to eliminate plastic entering the ocean.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4062", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2021-06-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2021-06-23T14:53:01.887Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "13"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2021-06-09", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Seas and Oceans: Pollution Control"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government what measures they are taking to reduce ocean pollution.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/248", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Jones of Cheltenham"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Jones of Cheltenham"} ], "uin" : "HL950"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1174490", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1174490/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Since it was first published by the European Commission in May 2018, the government has been involved in discussions on the draft regulation for the next programme. Discussions in the EU institutions are ongoing and the regulation has yet to be finalised. Future participation in EU programmes will be a subject of our negotiations on the future UK-EU relationship.<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4218", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Berridge"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Berridge"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2020-02-11", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2020-02-11T16:59:20.293Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2020-01-29", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Erasmus+ Programme"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government what involvement UK Ministers and officials have had in the development of the proposed Erasmus Regulation for 2021\u201327.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4238", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Storey"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Storey"} ], "uin" : "HL950"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/753262", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/753262/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Minister Johnson, the Minister for Universities and Science, in his speech at Reform on 20 July 2017, called on the sector to put an end to increasing vice chancellor pay and provide justification for the exceptional circumstances for large pay awards to improve value for money.<\/p>
<\/p>
He also announced that he will be issuing new guidance to the Office for Students (OfS) to use its powers to address this problem.<\/p>
<\/p>
Universities are autonomous bodies and it is their responsibility to determine pay arrangements for their staff. However, Minister Johnson has called for action to put an end to the upward spiral in vice chancellors\u2019 pay.<\/p>
<\/p>
The Government\u2019s 2017/18 grant letter to the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) stated:<\/p>
<\/p>
\u201cThe Government is clear that efficiency includes demonstrating restraint in senior pay and remains concerned about the substantial upwards drift in salaries of some top management. We would like to see senior leaders in the sector exercise more pay restraint.\u201d<\/p>
<\/p>